Bristol Fly Control Treatments For Dead Rats

The flies that interest us, are called the "true flies" from the order Diptera and are small insects that are responsible for
removing and recycling huge quantities of waste both animal and plant in origin.

There are estimated to be over 100,000 different species, yet only a small proportion are considered important pests both as a nuisance and
as vectors of disease.

Blow flies (family: Calliphoridae) are among the most recognisable flies of this group found in Bristol and this due to their
fantastic metallic colours. Blue bottle and Green bottle flies
in particular are very distinctive and recognisable to most people.

Blowflies feed on carrion and decaying organic matter. Flies can often be seen feeding on flowers where
they consume carbohydrate-rich nectar.

Once a rat dies it takes many hours, days or even weeks, before the flies access the carcass.

Temperature plays a vital part in this process because cold conditions render the flies dormant. Once the temperature rises above 10 Celcius, we see flies emerging from their long winter sleep, looking for a meal and a chance to reproduce.

Cold weather makes it unlikely flies will be around to notice dead rodents. Turning on heating systems will sometimes create a temperature
rise in the properties cavities, stimulating overwintering flies to emerge and be attracted to the dead rodent.

Flies are our friends - the sooner they get into a carcass, the sooner the smell goes!

Dead rats can take many months to decompose. First, the fly larvae will enter the animal around the mouth and rear. Once the fly larvae complete their job, moth and beetle larvae come in to eat the skin and fur. This process can take two years!

Large Numbers of Flies Overwinter In Lofts and Attics. Not considered a health risk.

Cluster Flies Cluster Flies make up a large number of flies, found in properties during the colder months of the year, hibernating in loft spaces in clusters that can number many thousands. 2013 was the year of the Cluster Fly, and every year one fly species will do better than others.

Horse Flies are the tigers of the sky and are among the very most significant predatory flies native to the United Kingdom. 2017 was a good year to be a horse fly as populations in July were way above average in many Bristol areas.

Small, Nuisance Flies Flies with Orange Eyes. Seen as an indicator of poor hygiene.

Fruit Flies are very small flies found on rotting organic matter especially fruit. Now becoming far more common as a nuisance pest since the rise of mandatory recycling programmes requiring a brown food waste box, often kept on counter tops.

Before you do anything you need to identify where the flies might be coming from and what species they are.